Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yodiana’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Yodiana’, characterized by its compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; medium-sized decorative-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; yellow-colored ray florets; and natural season flowering in early September in the Northern Hemisphere.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Yodiana’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, commercially known as a garden-type Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yodiana’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fareham, Hants, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to create new garden-type Chrysanthemum cultivars having inflorescences with desirable inflorescence forms, attractive floret colors and good garden performance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made in March, 2002 in Fareham, Hants, United Kingdom, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number G207-7, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Brangold, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Fareham, Hants, United Kingdom in September, 2002. The selection of this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence form, attractive floret coloration and good garden performance.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Fareham, Hants, United Kingdom since December, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yodiana has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Yodiana’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yodiana’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and rounded plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plants.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Medium-sized decorative-type inflorescences with elongated         oblong-shaped ray florets.     -   5. Yellow-colored ray florets.     -   6. Natural season flowering in early September in the Northern         Hemisphere.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer         disc florets than inflorescences of plants of the female parent         selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent         selection differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the         female parent selection had white-colored ray florets.     -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about one week         earlier than plants of the female parent selection when grown         under natural season conditions.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivar Brangold, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had darker green-colored         leaves than plants of the cultivar Brangold.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Brangold.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer         disc florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar         Brangold.     -   4. Ray florets of the new Chrysanthemum were darker yellow in         color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Brangold.     -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about two days         earlier than plants of the cultivar Brangold when grown under         natural season conditions.     -   6. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were longer         lasting than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Brangold.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Jessica, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,587. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Jessica in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than plants         of the cultivar Jessica.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Jessica.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had more disc florets per         inflorescence than plants of the cultivar Jessica.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more uniformly than         plants of the cultivar Jessica.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Gold Crest, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,606. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Gold Crest in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than plants         of the cultivar Gold Crest.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more freely and more         uniformly than plants of the cultivar Gold Crest.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the cultivar Gold Crest.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had more disc florets per         inflorescence than plants of the cultivar Gold Crest.     -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about three to four         days earlier than plants of the cultivar Gold Crest when grown         under natural season conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Yodiana’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of the cultivar ‘Yodiana’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Leamington, Ontario, Canada during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial garden-type Chrysanthemum production. Rooted cuttings were planted in 15.25-cm containers, grown under artificial long day conditions (four-hour night interruption) and pinched about ten days later. About ten days after the pinch, plants were then exposed to artificial short day conditions (11.5 hours light) until flowering. During the production of the plants, temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 38° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typical flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Yodiana. -   Commercial classification: Decorative-type garden Chrysanthemum. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number G207-7,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar             Brangold, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten to twelve days             at 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Perennial herbaceous             decorative-type garden Chrysanthemum. Inverted triangle with             mounded crown. Stems initially upright, then somewhat             outwardly spreading; rounded growth habit. Freely branching             with about nine primary branches with secondary lateral             branches potentially forming at every node. Moderately             vigorous to vigorous.         -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 36.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Aspect: Upright and somewhat             outwardly spreading. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             146A.         -   Foliage description.—Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Length:             About 4.6 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Mostly truncate with attenuate tendencies. Margin: Palmately             lobed, sinuses parallel to divergent. Texture, upper             surface: Slightly pubescent. Texture, lower surface:             Pubescent; veins prominent. Color: Developing and fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: More green than 147A.             Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close             to 147B. Venation, upper surface: More green than 147A.             Venation, lower surface: Close to 147B. Petiole length:             About 1.7 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color,             upper surface: Close to 146A. Petiole color, lower surface:             Close to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with             elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils. Ray             florets developing acropetally on a capitulum. About seven             inflorescences per secondary lateral branch.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants             flower in early September in the Northern Hemisphere.         -   Inflorescence bud (before showing color).—Height: About             4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color (lower             surface of phyllaries): More green than 147A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.1 cm. Disc diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle             diameter: About 4 mm.         -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong-shaped. Length: About             1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Corolla tube length: About 3 mm.             Corolla tube diameter: About 1 mm. Apex: Mostly emarginate.             Margin: Fused. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Orientation: Initially upright, eventually             perpendicular to the peduncle. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 145 in numerous whorls. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 6A to 6B.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 6C to             6D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 4 mm.             Width, apex: About 1 mm. Width, base: About 1 mm. Number of             disc florets per inflorescence: About 48. Color: Immature:             Close to 9A. Mature: Apex: Close to 9A. Mid-section: Close             to 154D. Base: Close to 155D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 20. Length:             About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, waxy. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: More             green than 147A.         -   Peduncle.—Length: First peduncle: About 1.75 cm. Fourth             peduncle: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: About 45° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to             12A. Amount of pollen: None observed. Gynoecium: Present on             both ray and disc florets. Style length: About 5 mm. Style             color: Close to 154A. Stigma color: Close to 9A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Chrysanthemums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures ranging from     0° C. to more than 38° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yodiana’, as illustrated and described. 